You can say that again

 

Well, we don’t have to wonder any longer when we can do something simple like go for a bus ride. Thanks to AEOA in Virginia, Minnesota, who donated their time and bus, we were able to partake in the fall splendor. We would like to send a huge thank you to AEOA for the use of the bus and to Pat Scully for his excellent service so we could once again experience the great outdoors.

According to the Perk

According to the Perk, it was National Fluffernutter Day Friday, October 9. We made Fluffernutters for Happy Hour. I gave one lucky resident the marshmallow creme spatula to lick and she said, “This is sticky” as she proceeded to touch everything around her. You can say that again, as I wipe off the iPad, her earbuds, her table, her hands, and her chair.

Do you know that the recipe used today to make Fluff is the same one developed 99 years ago?

Fluffernutter cookie recipe

Rose Hasegawa proudly displays her “I voted” sticker.

1- 7 oz. jar marshmallow
creme
1 cup peanut butter
1 egg

Whip the egg and the peanut butter together. Add the marshmallow creme and mix. Do not mix all of the marshmallow creme in. You want to leave some white creme showing.

Place on parchment paper or a silpat (non-stick silicone baking mat). Bake 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees.

This recipe says it makes 18 cookies. I say, “Sure if you are the size of a bumblebee.”

We also made Hummingbird Cake for National Hummingbird Day. Marce Wood, one of our fabulous Activity Assistants, was a real trooper, modifying the recipe to make the texture right. When she finally got done, she told me. “I have an idea. Let’s never make this cake again.” I told her, “Why? Now we know what needs to be better.” I thought it was good, as did the residents and staff. That’s what counts.

Hummingbird Cake recipe

2 cups mashed ripe bananas
1 ½ cups oil
3 large eggs, room temperature 1 8 oz can crushed pineapple (with the juice)
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups of sugar

Bob Haring and EMT Director Tom Fleming in conversation by Tom’s bike. Photos courtesy of Lisa Bloomquist

1 teaspoon each of salt,
baking soda, and cinnamon 1 cup chopped nuts

In a large bowl, beat the bananas, oil, eggs, pineapple and vanilla until well blended.

In another bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and cinnamon; gradually beat dry ingredients into banana mixture until blended. Stir in walnuts, if desired.

Pour into three 9” greased and floured round baking pans. Bake at 350 degrees until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 25-30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before transfering from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Pineapple Frosting

½ cup butter softened
1 teaspoon lemon zest
½ teaspoon salt
6 cups powdered sugar
½ cup pineapple juice
2 teaspoons cream

For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the butter, lemon zest and salt until fluffy. Add powdered sugar alternately with pineapple juice. Beat in cream. Spread between layers and over top and sides of the cake. If desired, sprinkle with chopped nuts.

National Grouch Day

National Grouch Day, which was Sunday, October 4, was the perfect day for all grouches to come together. A grouch’s mission in life is to make everyone’s life miserable, including their own. Only then will they be happy, yet they are not. Don’t be a grouch.

National Do Something Nice Day

National Do Something Nice Day was Monday, October 5. Sweet Marce handed all the residents little hearts that said “kindness” on them. The residents were asked to give them to people who did something nice for them that day. It was so touching to see who we received the hearts from.

Resident Spotlight

This month, our spotlight shines on Robert “Bob” Haring.

Bob was born in Marquette, Michigan, in 1922. He grew up on a farm near Escanaba, Michigan. He had four brothers and said, “sisters weren’t allowed.” They raised Jersey cows, had a garden and an apple orchard. He talked about eating apples and sometimes throwing them at each other. My interest peaked when he said they also had 100 Leghorn chickens. Something fun he used to do as a child was play in the creek between farm chores. Robert was known as Bob or Big Bob because he happened to be slightly bigger than another Bob. He reminisced about walking three miles one way on a gravel road to school each day. In the summer, they didn’t have money for shoes, so they went barefoot. Even though they had a farm, he said they had almost nothing to eat. They were able to make their own flour and sugar, but it was tough. Food was hard to come by.

At first, they didn’t have electricity, but eventually, they got it. He remembers them trying to bring the electricity into the house around all the rocks and boards in the walls. He also remembers getting a radio when he was about 12, and getting to listen to it a little bit between chores. They did schoolwork by kerosene lamps and used lanterns in the barn to do tasks. He said, “It’s amazing the barn didn’t burn down.”

Bob went off to war and Bethel Bible College. Bob said at first, the girls at Bethel outranked the guys. There were 3-4 girls to every guy. Then the war was over, and there were five guys to every girl. Bob figured he had better make something of himself to attract a girl, or he would never get one. Bob met his wife Audrey, who came from Sweden with her parents, at Bethel University. They got married in Escanaba, Michigan, on June 12, 1947. They were married almost 67 years when his beloved Audrey passed away. They have five children: Linda, Juanita, Carson, Melodee, and Dawn. I guess girls were allowed. He has 20 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and maybe three great-great-grandchildren.

Bob and Audrey served in the ministry around 40 years. They enjoyed traveling and have traveled all over the central and western USA. Bob’s motorcycle was a Kawasaki, the same style as the guys from the TV show CHiPs rode. One of Bob’s favorite places he went via motorcycle was to Yellowstone National Park. Bob also enjoyed painting and preaching. Still on Bob’s bucket list is to travel to Florida on a motorcycle. When asked what words of advice Bob has for young people, he simply said, “Study the Bible as though your life depends on it, because it does!”

What’s happening?

There’s a new guy in town. Oscar Piedmont 2.0. Oscar is a five-month-old short hair ginger polydactyl kitten. He has visited once and will start visiting more frequently.

Molly and Maizy, my two Schnauzers, have been back visiting a bit also.

Every resident who wanted to vote got the chance to do so.

We won’t be having Trick or Treaters at the Care Center this year, but we are making ghosts out of Tootsie Roll Lollipop’s and sending them over to the Grand Marais schools in time for Halloween.

Joyce Hagen and Iris Shepard were our Daily Perk Puzzle drawing winners. They both received a stash of chocolate for their endeavors.

Residents who celebrated October birthdays are David Groth, Rose Hasegawa, James Tveekrem, Deb R, and Janet Ryden.

Indoor visits are still happening. You can make arrangements to visit a North Shore Living resident by calling 218-387-3040. Up to five people may visit at a time.

FaceTime and Skype visits are happening. You can make arrangements for them by calling the Activity Department at 218-387-3518.

Life is still happening

At this time, we continue to limit visitors inside North Shore Living to all but essential healthcare personnel, compassionate care visitors and designated essential caregivers. This policy is based on the current guidance from the CDC, CMS and MDH. We will refine and update our policy as more information becomes available and as guidelines change. If you have questions regarding our visitation policy, please contact Amy James at 218-387-3282; Robert McGregor at 218-387-3799 or Kimber Wraalstad at 218-387-3260, or you may call the Ombudsman for Long-Term Care at 651-431-2555 or 1-800-657-3591.

To our families, friends, and volunteers, we miss you and hope you are doing well.

Be the reason someone smiles today.

You can say that again.